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Key Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a New Water Softener

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Water softeners can be a great addition to many homes in Utah, especially since most municipal water systems in the area have “hard” water, a term that describes water containing minerals like calcium and magnesium, that can cause problems with scale build up and dry skin. Before you get one, though, there are a few questions you should ask.

Does My Home Have Hard Water?

Most water in Utah is considered hard, but before you purchase a water softener it’s best to have your water tested. Not only will this let you know exactly how hard your water is, it’s important in selecting the correct size of water softener. This test is simple to do and any reputable water softening company can do it right in your home.  Also ask if there are other elements in your water you should be concerned about, such as iron or chlorine.

What Kind of Water Softener Do I Need?

There are dozens of options to choose from when you’re shopping for a water softener, and the right one for your home will depend on different factors. First, determine the capacity you need for your water softener. Next, check for third-party certifications such as those from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) to make sure its performance matches up to the claims they are making.

Is This a Reputable Company?

There are a lot of companies to choose from when purchasing a water softener, so before you buy, make sure you do a little research. Not all companies will be reputable, and purchasing from a fly-by-night company that might do a poor installation, or might not be around when something goes wrong and the system requires maintenance or repairs. Choose a company that has been in business installing water softeners in Utah for many years. Ratings in publications like Consumer’s Digest and Consumer Reports can also be a good resource.

What Kind of Customer Service Do They Offer?

In addition to finding a company that provides quality products at an affordable price, you want to make sure the one you’re working with offers great customer service. Read reviews from previous customers, or ask for a phone number to check referrals and ensure you’re working with a quality company.

To find out more about water softeners in Utah and have one installed in your home, call Kinetico today.

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4 Ways Water Softeners Can Save You Money

piggy bank

Most people know that water softeners make it easier to keep water spots and scum off of dishes, plumbing fixtures and silverware, but did you know that a water softener can also save you money? While it may cost a bit up-front, the four following money-saving benefits make up for the initial cost.

Reduces the Amount of Laundry Soap You Buy

Laundry detergent is fairly expensive, especially if you have hard water and need to use a lot of it. Hard water contains minerals that inhibit the ability of detergents to clean properly. This means that you will need to use  larger amounts of detergent in order to try and get your laundry sufficiently clean. Installing a water softener allows you to use less laundry detergent and experience a significant savings advantage over time.

Soft water also eliminates the need to use expensive products like Oxy Clean,  Calgon and Clorox to try and keep your whites from turning gray and dingy.  Soft water will also eliminate, or virtually eliminate, the need for fabric softeners and your towels, sheets and other clothing be soft and fresh smelling.

Eliminates Damage to Plumbing

Want your plumbing system to last as long as possible? Installing a water softener may be the best way to extend its life. Mineral deposits from hard water can collect in your  pipes, appliances, faucets and fixtures.  It also leaves unsightly and hard to clean build up and rings in sinks, toilets and on faucets.   Soft water eliminates these problems and helps ensure that your plumbing lasts as long as possible. Healthy, non-clogged plumbing pipes and appliances are less likely to require expensive repairs and replacement.

It is estimated that 17-20% of the cost of a home is for the plumbing system, that’s a lot of money invested, and soft water protects this investment and significantly extend its life.

Reduces the Amount of Soap and Lotion You Use

Soaps, shampoos and lotions may not seem very expensive, but their costs can add up to surprising amounts over time. Soft water makes it possible to use less of these items so that you don’t need to purchase them as frequently.

University studies have shown a 50-80% reduction in soap usage with soft water vs. hard water.  As an example, the Maytag Answer Book  recommends using 3tsp of detergent with soft water and in hard water  10-12tsp.  In extremely hard water  they say “it’s very difficult to achieve acceptable dishwashing results” no matter how much detergent is used.

In an attempt to get their dishes clean and spot free in hard water most people add additional products like Jet Dry or Lemi -shine.  In soft water these products are not needed at all, adding to the cost savings and protects the environment at the same time.

Extends the Life of Your Clothing

The minerals found in hard water can be rough on your clothing and cause them to look dull and dingy. Water softeners are gentler on fabric and can help you save money by extending the life of your clothing.  According to a Purdue University study “the life of clothing and household textiles was prolonged up to 15% when washed in soft water.”

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Three Facts About Reverse Osmosis

woman drinking water

Even though many companies offer home water softening systems, we think that we offer customers the very best options. Reverse osmosis water is some of the purest and most delicious water available anywhere in the world – and you can have a virtually unlimited supply at your home with surprisingly little cost. Your entire family can enjoy the pure, perfect taste of RO water just the way nature intended it.

Pressure Is Used to Remove Major Contaminants

A reverse osmosis system utilizes the finely tuned application of pressure to drive water through a semi-permeable membrane.  This membrane is only about as thick as a sheet of plastic but it is capable of removing many different inorganic solids that are dissolved into water.  Dissolved solids are any minerals, heavy metals, salts, etc that were once a solid that have now dissolved into the water.

You Never Come in Contact With Contaminants

The contaminants removed from the water by the reverse osmosis membrane are removed and flushed away. Your home reverse osmosis system will remove many major contaminants, including:

  • Lead
  • Arsenic
  • Iron
  • Sulfate
  • Sodium
  • Nickel
  • Mercury
  • Cadmium
  • Cyanide
  • Chloride
  • Phosphate

A home reverse osmosis system will also include two to four additional filters to remove other impurities that affect the taste, smell and quality of your drinking water.  These additional filters will remove sediments and particulates, chlorine and many other chemicals.

All that is left is clear, deliciously drinkable water.

Reverse Osmosis Is Very Affordable

In terms of cost-per-glass, reverse osmosis is one of the most affordable water filtration systems available. The system’s components last so long that each glass costs homeowners only pennies. Your family can cook, make ice cubes,   and enjoy clean delicious drinking water all without breaking the bank. The system’s ease of use and overall convenience also make it a valuable addition to any home.

Discover RO Water Today

Contact Kinetico of Salt Lake City Utah today to learn more about this water purification technology. In no time you can discover exactly what makes reverse osmosis water so exciting.

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Key Signs Your Home Has Hard Water

water

You may have heard the term “hard water” and wondered what it is and whether your home has this type of water. Unless you have experienced hard water before, how would you know if you had it? It’s important for homeowners to understand some of the common signs of hard water to be able to identify it, understand the problems associated with it, and learn the best ways to remove it from your water supply.

Hard Water Causes

Hard water comes from minerals that are present in the soil and are absorbed into the water supply on its way to your home. That usually includes some or all of the following:

  • Calcium carbonate
  • Limestone
  • Calcium sulfate
  • Magnesium
  • Iron

These minerals, while not generally harmful to your health, can cause problems any time you use water in your home.

Noticeable Hard Water Problems

While you can always call a water softener company, or your local water municipal office for a testing kit to determine if you have hard water, most people notice some of the other effects before they take the step of getting it tested. Things you may have noticed at your own home might include:

  • Water spots or a white film on your dishes and glassware
  • Coarse hair and dry itchy skin
  • Mineral deposits that build up on your faucets and appliances (and in your pipes, although you likely only notice this if it gets bad enough to clog the pipe)
  • Mineral deposits, known as scaling, on your shower and bathtub doors
  • Clothing that looks dull or loses its color quickly
  • Poor lathering from your soap or shampoo

Fixing Hard Water

The easiest way to fix hard water in your home (short of moving somewhere that doesn’t have any naturally-occurring minerals in the water) is to purchase a water softener. These systems remove the minerals and exchange them for salt, leaving you with softer skin and hair, shiny spot free dishes, cleaner clothes that hold their color longer, and pipes that are protected from continual scale buildup.

Another advantage of a water softener is the prolonged life for your appliances. Hard water can quickly damage appliances such as your washing machine, dishwasher, and water heater, which means they don’t work as well as you hope and you’ll have to spend money replacing them sooner. When you purchase a water softener, the water that flows through these appliances is free of minerals that could otherwise clog up the system and cause problems.

To get a quote on a new water softener in Utah, or to find out more about what minerals are in your water, call Kinetico of Salt Lake City today.

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Three Little Known Benefits of Water Softeners

Cute little girl washing face and hands in bathroom

If you have hard water in your home and are considering water softeners from Kinetico Utah, we want you to make the best choice for your family. Our goal is to educate you about all the benefits that come from installing a water softener.  Here we have several little known benefits of using water softeners.

Brighter, Longer-Lasting Clothing

Hard water is hard on your laundry, and using soft water ensures that your clothes stay brighter and last longer. If you’re raising kids and it seems like you do several loads of laundry each day, this can greatly cut back on fading and wear and tear that is common when clothes are washed.  You will also have soft fluffy towels again, instead of the hard crunchy ones you now have.

Along with your clothing, your washing machine may last longer because the buildup of deposits and minerals that are common with hard water are eliminated. This not only improves the function of your machine, but saves you money in the long run.

Softer Skin

Hard water contains minerals that can be hard on your skin. With soft water, those minerals are removed, ensuring that skin is softer and smoother after you wash it. Hard water creates a dingy film that resides on the skin, and soft water ensures that your skin is clear and fresh every time you bathe.

Stronger Plumbing Systems

As with your washing machine, your other water using appliances, pipes and fixtures may have scale buildup in them, if you have hard water in your home. After several years, this can wear on your plumbing. If you hate clogged jets in your dishwasher, leaky faucets and hard water rings on your toilets, a water softener may solve your problems. A water softener removes minerals like calcium and magnesium that buildup in your homes plumbing.

Call Kinetico Utah Today

If you want to know more about the benefits of water softeners, give us a call today at 800-969-4420.

 

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The Costliest Water Damage Happening in Your Home

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The idea of water damage is frightening for any homeowner, especially those who have experienced the destruction and long-term problems that can occur from things like flooding. However, there is another type of water damage that could be impacting your home and is much, much harder to detect because it’s happening inside your pipes: hard water damage.

The Basics of Hard Water

The two most common minerals found in water are calcium and magnesium, and while many people take these supplements to keep their bodies healthy, having them inside your water isn’t necessarily the best way to get them in your diet. For the most part, hard water that contains calcium, magnesium, and other minerals is not necessarily bad for your health, but it could be very bad for your plumbing.

Bathroom Fixtures

Perhaps the most noticeable damage from hard water is the stuff you see on your appliances and fixtures. Homes that have hard water will generally start to see a “buildup” of calcium and magnesium around the edges of faucets, on the shower, and perhaps around sinks and bathtubs as well. Unfortunately traditional cleaning supplies generally are not enough to get rid of this buildup, and if you wait too long, the only solution will be to replace your fixtures and shower heads.

Plumbing Pipes

Another type of hard water damage that you won’t see is inside your pipes. When hard water minerals and deposits harden inside the pipes they can cause blockages that are not easy to get out. Traditional drain cleaners won’t fix them, and in most cases you will need to hire a professional plumber to come and remove it. There are some plumbing fixtures that are less prone to damage than others, but the best way to avoid this type of damage is just to get soft water.

Appliance Damage

Finally, hard water minerals can cause serious and significant damage to your appliances. Water is essential for things like your dishwasher and washing machine, but when the pipes and inner parts of the appliance get clogged with hard water deposits, not only will your appliances be running far less efficiently and costing you more, but it might also be causing unseen damage that will wear out the appliance sooner. The end result is that you either have to pay for expensive repairs or just buy new appliances.

Rather than dealing with these costs, talk to Kinetico in Utah today to find out more about the benefits that soft water can provide. In addition to making your skin and hair feel softer, it can save you a lot of scrubbing and harsh chemical use when cleaning your bathroom fixtures, and can prevent some of the costly unseen damage to your pipes and appliances.

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Four Benefits of a Kinetico Water Softener System

water softeners

You may already know about the benefits that a water softener can provide for your home—everything from protection against faded clothing to softer skin and, not to mention, money savings from using less detergent and soap—but not all water softeners are created equal. If you have considered purchasing one, you probably know that there are a lot of different choices out there, but how do you know which is the best? Here are four reasons that you should put Kinetico in Utah at the top of your list.

No Electricity

All other water softeners use electricity, but combining salt, water and electricity is usually not a very good idea.  Kinetico systems are different because they are non-electric and use the force of water to power the unit, which means you won’t have to plug it in (and pay for electricity), plus there aren’t any electrical components that might go haywire or need repair in the future. According to Consumer Reports Magazine “servicepersons report that microprocessors are among the most frequently broken components of these systems” and “the damp often salty environment is hard on electric circuitry.” A non-electric Kinetico water softener eliminates all of these concerns and never requires you to program or reset it.  When water is used it simply measures the usage and regenerates whenever it needs to.

Automatically Adjusts to Water Usage

Regular water softener systems determine when to regenerate based on an average of your past daily water usage. Therefore, you get the same treatment interval when you are on vacation and using no water, as you would when you have your entire extended family in town for the holidays using 10 times your normal volume of water. Kinetico systems monitor your water use so it processes whenever it’s needed—not sooner, not later—which means you always get quality soft water and never have excess waste.

Long-Lasting and Dependable

Kinetico has been making water softeners for more than 40 years, so when you get tired of another water softener that is causing you all sorts of problems, constantly requiring repairs or needing parts replaced, call us and we’ll replace it with a Kinetico system. Our non-electric, dual softening tank water softeners are engineered to provide 20-30 years of reliable service and are backed by an industry-leading ten year warranty. 

Uses 70% Less Salt 

Yes, that is correct; a Kinetico water softener will use an average of 70% less salt than a traditional water softener.  Imagine how nice it would be to significantly reduce the number of trips you make to the store to pick up salt! That’s less times you have to haul those heavy 40 lb. bags from the garage down to the basement and then empty them into the salt tank.

It may sound too good to be true but, a Kinetico water softener really does operate without electricity, it automatically adjusts to your water usage so, you always have soft water, it uses an average of 70% less salt and provides many decades of reliable, trouble-free service.  

To find out more, contact your local Kinetico professional.